President Jimmy Carter's Sunday School

On May 22, I did something I've been meaning to do since I moved to Georgia. I attended a Sunday school class taught by former President Jimmy Carter!

My awesome friend, Lo, and I woke up extra early and started the drive from Atlanta to Plains at about 6:30 a.m. We arrived at about 9 a.m. at Maranatha Baptist Church.

If you don't know much about Plains (like I didn't), it's a small town. SMALL. I had underestimated exactly how small it is. Its population is about 750 people. Likewise, the church was really small as well. I was expecting something big and fancy, but instead, Maranatha Baptist Church was smaller than the churches I had grown up in! Although it was small and not the fanciest church I'd been inside, it was very nice.

The exterior of Maranatha Baptist Church.

When we pulled up to the church, we were greeted by police officers. A bomb-detecting dog was sniffing around each car. Before we entered the church, Secret Service agents looked in my purse and used metal-detecting wands on us.

Secret Service agents were actually everywhere in the building.

We got into the church a full hour before the Sunday school class started. The pews were pretty full, so they sat us in the choir loft, which I think were awesome seats! As we waited, we listened to a woman, I think her name was Kim, give us rules and tell us pieces of trivia about Jimmy Carter.

Rules included:

• President Carter will go around the sanctuary and ask what states/countries people are from. Once on state/country has been called out, don't repeat it.
• While President Carter is asking where everyone is from is your ONE chance to take a picture of him.
• Don't stand up when President Carter enters the room.
• Don't clap for President Carter -- He wants those in attendance to take what they have learned and apply it to their everyday lives, which is "applause" enough for him.

Kim said she had grown up in Plains, and that her mother-in-law had dated Jimmy Carter when they were in high school. When Kim asked why her mother-in-law had broken things off with Jimmy Carter, she replied that she "wasn't impressed with him." :-P

Shortly before 10 a.m., I saw the former First Lady, Rosalynn Carter, be lead into the sanctuary and sit down in a pew. I inwardly freaked out.

Then, President Carter entered the room!

President Carter asking where everyone is from.

President Carter asking our section where we were from!

President Carter then spent a few minutes talking about what has been going on at the Carter Center ... But I was still in awe at seeing a former president just a few feet from me, so I can't really remember much about what he said, haha.

Then, the actual lesson started.

The lesson was based on Acts 2:37-47. During his lesson, President Carter spoke of the first time he ran for governor of Georgia, and lost. He said a big part of the platform of his opponent was racial segregation. Carter was deeply disappointed when he lost, and this tested his faith. Afterward he went to the northeast and did some mission work, which he considered to be a spiritual turning point.

He ran again for governor four years later and won ... And the rest is history ;-)

President Carter spoke of how important it is to love others. I wrote down something he said, "Be open to others, not self-centered and full of pride." I wish I would've brought a pen because I would have made more notes.

We stayed for the church service, and then afterward were able to take a photo with the Carters! We weren't allowed to initiate conversation with the Carters, but both said hello to me. I greeted them back and then thanked them. As I walked away, President Carter said "thank you, sweetheart." !!!!!!!!!!

Me with the Carters! A lot of people have asked about my dress ... it's from eshakti.com. Eshakti gift cards make awesome presents ... *cough cough.*

I want to put that on my resume. Ann Smajstrla: B.A. in Journalism from the University of North Texas; once called "sweetheart" by President Jimmy Carter ... Ever heard of him?

I can't stress how incredible this experience was. If you're in Georgia, GO. Heck, if you're not in Georgia, STILL GO.

At 91, President Carter is still sharp as a tack. He stood up and spoke for nearly an hour. He stayed afterward and took pictures with everyone who showed up.

What I love most of all is that President Carter seems so humble. Although he could be kicking back in a mansion in Atlanta if he wanted to, he lives in his tiny hometown, and helps the community he grew up in. He doesn't go to a big, fancy church. He goes to a small church where he teaches Sunday school to anyone and everyone.

Kim told a story that one time, the Carters invited all of the children in the area to Maranatha Baptist Church. They served pizza to all of them, and a Secret Service agent did magic tricks for all of the kids! How cool is that?

At 91, President Carter continues to work with Habitat for Humanity and do humanitarian work with the Carter Center. He will be serving other people until he dies. He's truly an inspiring individual.

I'm so glad I was able to see this man speak and see his humility firsthand. I hope he has a few years left in him ... He was able to beat cancer, so I have hope. :-)